An Important Discussion About 'Lupin,' Netflix's Fancy French Heist Show

 

The thing I like about Lupin is that someone steals Marie Antoinette’s diamond necklace from The Louvre in the first episode. I suppose this is a spoiler in the most technical definition of the term, as it is a thing that happens in the show, but also, come on. The word “heist” is right there in the episode description, and the promotional images for the show including the one at the top of this page feature a man in a custodial-type uniform staring at a diamond necklace with mischief in his eyes. I think we all knew that the necklace was getting stolen at some point. I’m just saying I appreciated that they got right to it. The spoiler would be me telling you how the necklace was stolen, or why, although I suspect you’ve already deduced that there were misdirection and misadventure involved. And men in tuxedos. And a creepy evil rich dude who deserves some amount of comeuppance.

And you’d be correct, for the record, about all of it. But that’s what makes Lupin so fun. The show doesn’t break the mold of the Gentleman Thief genre in any substantive way. In fact, it does the opposite. It leans all the way into the mold, winking at the audience throughout, with disguises and twists and, at one point, I swear to God, a drone navigating a building outfitted with the kind of crisscrossing-laser-based security system you see Catherine Zeta-Jones dipping under in Entrapment and the Night Fox dancing through in Ocean’s Twelve. This is all fine — great, even — because that mold rules. Always has, probably always will. We all know this. So does Lupin. There’s no need to get especially cute about it. Hence, the immediate diamond heist. There is the business to attend to and business is good.

But you still have some questions, I imagine. Please, fire away.

Who or what exactly is Lupin?

Excellent place to start. There are two answers to this question.

Oh, God.

No, no, it’s fine. I promise. There’s Lupin, the show, and Lupin, a famous character from French novels. Let’s start with the former.

Lupin is a French Netflix series about a thief named Assane Diop, played by Omar Sy. Assane is a master of disguise and deception, the kind of guy who is always one step ahead even when it looks like he’s two steps behind. He’s the one who steals the necklace in the first episode — also not a spoiler, come on. What we find out as the series progresses, though, is that he’s doing it for Reasons. Good reasons, borderline understandable ones, involving revenge and justice and clearing the name of a loved one. He is very suave and he wears a lot of hats and he has a very cool office that is full of computer monitors and costumes. It looks like this.

The thing I like about Lupin is that somebody takes Marie Antoinette's jewel accessory from The Louver in the principal scene. I guess this is a spoiler in the most specialized meaning of the term, as it is a thing that occurs in the show, yet in addition, please. "Heist" is not too far off in the scene portrayal, and the limited time pictures for the show including the one at the highest point of this page highlight a man in a custodial-type uniform gazing at a piece of precious stone jewelry with naughtiness in his eyes. I think we as a whole realized that the neckband was getting taken eventually. I'm trying to say I appreciated that they got right to it. The spoiler would be me disclosing to you how the jewelry was taken, or why, despite the fact that I speculate you've just concluded that there were confusion and misfortune included. Also, men in tuxedos. Also, an unpleasant malicious rich buddy who merits some measure of proper recompense. 

Furthermore, you'd be right, for the record, pretty much every last bit of it. In any case, that is the thing that makes Lupin so fun. The show doesn't think outside the box of the Gentleman Thief classification in any meaningful manner. Truth be told, it does the inverse. It inclines right into the shape, winking at the crowd all through, with camouflages and winds and, at a certain point, I pledge to God, a robot exploring a structure equipped with the sort of confusing laser-based security framework you see Catherine Zeta-Jones plunging under in Entrapment and the Night Fox moving through in Ocean's Twelve. This is all fine — incredible, even — in light of the fact that that form rules. Continuously has, presumably consistently will. We as a whole know this. Lupin does as well. There's no compelling reason to get particularly adorable about it. Henceforth, the prompt precious stone heist. There is a variety of things to do and business is acceptable. 

Yet, you actually have a few inquiries, I envision. It would be ideal if you fire away. 

Who or what precisely is Lupin? 

An incredible spot to begin. There are two responses to this inquiry. 

Goodness, God. 

No, no, it's fine. I guarantee. There's Lupin, the show, and Lupin, a popular character from French books. How about we start with the previous. 

Lupin is a French Netflix arrangement about a cheat named Assane Diop, played by Omar Sy. Assane is an expert of mask and misdirection, the sort of fellow who is consistently one stride ahead in any event, when it would appear that he's two stages behind. He's the person who takes the accessory in the main scene — additionally not a spoiler, please. What we discover as the arrangement advances, however, is that he's doing it for Reasons. Valid justifications, fringe reasonable ones, including retribution and equity and freeing the name from a friend or family member. He is extremely smooth and he wears a ton of caps and he has a cool office that is brimming with PC screens and ensembles. It would seem that this.

Once more, exceptionally French. 

So this all appears to be awesome, what with the heists and masks and splendid hoodlums endeavoring to right recorded wrongs through gem burglary. I surmise my solitary other inquiry is, similar to, what sort of broad vibe does it have? It doesn't get all dull and coarse in the center, isn't that right? 

Nah. There are some hazier components (a homicide here, supposed self-destruction there, a sprinkling of danger), I surmise, yet none that drag the show toward that path. The vibe is… gee. Do you know how Bosch is somewhat similar to each "liability analyst who gets results" show yet in addition the most ideal form of those shows? That is the thing that Lupin is, however with extravagant violations, and subsequently naturally more fun. So indeed, things get somewhat sketchy to a great extent, generally in the flashbacks, yet in addition, the man does his own detailed cosmetics and knows the names of all his cosmetics brushes, and, once more, he pilots a robot through a laser-loaded space to get data about a foe. 

You continue to make reference to this robot. I figure it would assist me with seeing wh-

That was fast.

I had been waiting for you to ask. I was getting impatient.

Okay, fine. I’m in. I will watch the first five episodes of Lupin.

You know, now that I think about it, I probably should have just posted that drone GIF at the top of this page and saved us both a bunch of time.

I mean, I think it would have been enough for me.